Schlereth: ‘Kid gloves’ need to come off for Broncos QB Siemian

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak used the word “survive” after his team’s 27-19 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday — as in Denver made “enough mistakes to probably lose two or three games.”

And Kubiak wasn’t exactly effusive in his praise on Monday after seeing the film, especially regarding the play of second-year quarterback Trevor Siemain.

“Some of Trevor’s decision making yesterday was not as good as it’s been for us as a football team,” Kubiak said. “… I think he understands that coming out of the football game. We talked about that already so he has to continue to improve. He has seven starts under his belt and there’s going to be eight more big ones coming up here so he’s got to keep improving.”

On Tuesday, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth interpreted the comment from Kubiak, whom he said would never dress down a player through the media, as disappointment from the head coach over his young gunslinger.

“You heard a guy who was disappointed with the way his young quarterback played,” Schlereth said. “This is a coach that went to bat for you. This is a coach that wanted you. This is a coach that was one of only five who decided to work you out in the NFL. And you didn’t perform up to snuff.

“And that is Gary Kubiak’s way of saying the kid gloves have come off.”

Schlereth said Siemian needs to come out this week and perform well against a strong divisional foe in the Oakland Raiders or the coaches will start saying, “We’re not going to let you go out there and let you perform.”

“It’s time to step up and the kid gloves have to come off when you’re coaching these guys. And for Trevor Siemian, that time is now,” Schlereth said.

Through his first seven starts of his career, Siemian’s thrown for 1,487 yards (26th in the NFL), been picked off 1.9 percent of the time (17th), and has a QBR of 55.2 (24th).

Sunday’s loss is the worst statistically of Siemain’s career, throwing one interception (though several more could have been picked off) and no touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 65.2.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.